Climate change in China
Climate change is having major effects on the Chinese economy, society and the environment.[1][2] China is the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide, through an energy infrastructure heavily focused on coal. China's per capita emissions are greater than the world and European Union averages but less than Australia, Canada, and the U.S.[3] China recorded its hottest year on record in 2023, with an average temperature of 10.7 °C.[4] On the basis of cumulative CO2 emissions measured from 1751 through to 2017, China is responsible for 13% of global and about half of the United States' cumulative emissions.[5][6]
A burgeoning construction industry and industrial manufacturing contribute heavily to carbon emissions. It has also been noted that higher-income countries have outsourced emissions-intensive industries to China.[7][8]
China is suffering from the negative effects of global warming in agriculture, forestry and water resources, and is expected to continue to see increased impacts. China's government is taking some measures to increase renewable energy, and other decarbonization efforts, vowing to hit peak emissions before 2030 and be carbon neutral by 2060 by adopting "more vigorous policies and measures."[9] China's GHG emissions will likely peak in 2025 and return to 2022 levels by 2030. However, such pathway will still lead to a 3 degrees Celsius temperature rise.[10]
Greenhouse gas emissions
[edit]China's total greenhouse gas emissions are the world's highest of any country, accounting for 35% of the world's total according to the International Energy Agency. The country's per capita greenhouse gas emissions are the 34th highest of any country, as of 2023.
Greenhouse gas emissions stem mainly from coal burning, including coal power, coal mining,[13] and blast furnaces producing iron and steel.[14] 79% of CO2 emissions are from the burning of coal.[15]Impacts on the natural environment
[edit]This section needs to be updated.(September 2019) |
China has and will suffer some of the effects of global warming, including sea level rise, glacier retreat and air pollution.
Temperature and weather changes
[edit]This section needs additional citations for verification. (July 2023) |
There has also been an increased occurrence of climate-related disasters such as drought and flood, and the amplitude is growing. These events have grave consequences for productivity when they occur, and also create serious repercussions for the natural environment and infrastructure. This threatens the lives of billions and aggravates poverty.
Responding to Climate Change: China's Policies and Actions
First in Preface: China's New Responses to Climate Change.
Second in Preface: Implementing a National Strategy of Actively Responding to climate Change.
Third in Preface: Significant Changes in China's Response to Climate Change.
Fourth in Preface: Building a Fair and Rational Global Climate Governance System for Win-Win Results.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) convened in 2012, China has prioritized its response to climate change.
A study published in 2017, using continuous and coherent severe weather reports from over 500 manned stations from 1961 to 2010, found a significant decreasing trend in severe weather occurrence across China, with the total number of severe weather days that have either thunderstorms, hail and/or damaging wind decreasing about 50% from 1961 to 2010. The reduction in severe weather occurrences correlated strongly with the weakening of the East Asian summer monsoon.[19][20]
China observed a ground average temperature increase of 0.24 °C (0.43 °F) per decade from 1951 to 2017, exceeding the global rate. The average precipitation of China was 641.3 millimetres (25.25 in) in 2017, 1.8% more than the average precipitation of previous years. There was an annual increase in concentrations of carbon dioxide from 1990 to 2016. The annual mean concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide at Wanliguan Station were 404.4 ppm, 1907 ppb, and 329.7 ppb separately in 2016, slightly higher than the global mean concentration in 2016.[21]
Sea level rise
[edit]The sea level rise was 3.5mm/year from 1980 to 2022 compared to the global average of 3.2mm/year.[23][24]
China's first National Assessment of Global Climate Change, released in the 2000s by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), states that China already suffers from the environmental impacts of climate change: increase of surface and ocean temperature, rise of sea level.[25][better source needed] Temperatures in the Tibetan Plateau of China are rising four times faster than anywhere else (data from 2011).[26] Rising sea level is an alarming trend because China has a very long and densely populated coastline, with some of the most economically developed cities such as Shanghai, Tianjin, and Guangzhou situated there. Chinese research has estimated that a one-meter rise in sea level would inundate 92,000 square kilometers of China's coast, thereby displacing 67 million people.[27][better source needed]
Climate change caused an increase in sea level, threatening to impair the functions of harbors.[28][better source needed]
Rising sea levels affect China's coastal land. Cities along the coast such as Shanghai, only 3–5 meters above sea level leaves its 18 million residents vulnerable. Sea levels in Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong have already risen .12 meters in the last 50 years.[29]
Ecosystems
[edit]Climate change increases forest belt limits and frequencies of pests and diseases, decreases frozen earth areas, and threatens to decrease glacial areas in northwest China. The vulnerability of ecosystems may increase due to future climate change.[28][better source needed] In the years 1970-2016 the occurrence of crop pest and diseases increased 4 times. 22% of that rise are due to climate change. By the year 2100 the occurrence will rise 243% under a low emission scenario and by 460% under a high emissions scenario. China is the biggest producer of wheat and rice in the world. It is in the second place in maize production.[30][31]
China is home to 17,300 species of plants and animals: 667 vertebrates, ancient flora and fauna. Due to rising global temperatures, within the next century 20-30% of species will go extinct.[32]
More than one fourth of China is covered by desert, which is growing due to desertification. Desertification in China destroys farmland, biodiversity, and exacerbates poverty.[33]
Water resources
[edit]Climate change decreased total water resources in North China while increasing total water resources in South China. There were more floods, drought, and extreme weather events. A major drought in 2001 resulted in China losing 6.4 billion U.S. dollars of crops as well as reducing water supply for “33 million rural people and 22 million livestock.”[34] There may be a big impact on the spatial and temporal distribution in China's water resources, increasing extreme weather events and natural disasters.[28]
Glacier melting in the Northern Region of China causes flooding in the upper parts of the Yangtze River. This ruins soil and arable land. The glacial melting causes lower parts of the Yangtze River to have lower volumes of water, also disrupting farming.[29]
Furthermore, climate change will worsen the uneven distribution of water resources in China. Outstanding rises in temperature would exacerbate evapotranspiration, intensifying the risk of water shortage for agricultural production in the North. Although China's southern region has an abundance of rainfall, most of its water is lost due to flooding. As the Chinese government faces challenges managing its expanding population, increased demand for water to support the nation's economic activity and people will burden the government. In essence, a water shortage is indeed a large concern for the country.[27][better source needed]
Overfishing and rising ocean temperatures are killing the coral reefs in the South China Sea. This lowers biodiversity, and negatively affects the fish market economy in China.[29]
Impacts on people
[edit]Health impacts
[edit]Climate change has a significant impact on the health of Chinese people. The high temperature has caused health risks for some groups of people, such as older people (≥65 years old), outdoor workers, or people living in poverty. In 2019, each person who is older than 65 years had to endure extra 13 days of the heatwave, and 26,800 people died because of the heatwave in 2019.
In the future, the probability rate of malaria transmission will increase 39-140 percent because of temperature increase of 1-2 degrees Celsius in south China.[35]
Economic impacts
[edit]According to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report the country that will pay the highest financial cost if the temperature continue to rise is China. The impacts will include food insecurity, water scarcity, flooding, especially in coastal areas where most of the population lives due to higher than average sea level rise, and more powerful cyclones. At some point part of the country can face wet-bulb temperatures higher than humans and other mammals can tolerate more than six hours.[36]
Agriculture
[edit]The negative effects on China's agriculture caused by climate change have appeared. There was an increase in agricultural production instability, severe damages caused by high temperature and drought, and lower production and quality in the prairie. In the near future, climate change may cause negative influences, causing a reduction of output in wheat, rice, and corn, and change the agricultural distribution of production.[28][better source needed] China is also dealing with agricultural issues due global demands of products such as soybeans. This global demand is causing coupled effects that stretch across oceans which in turn is affecting other countries.[citation needed]
Over the past 70 years, climate change seriously reduced China's food security, mainly by inducing drought and flooding. Flooding decreased the yields of rice by 8% over the last 20 years. As China is the biggest food producer and importer in the world, what happens in the agricultural sector of China has an immediate effect on the global food system. China increased its grain self sufficiency by expanding agriculture areas to regions with less rain, giving them water with irrigation systems. Now those fields are at risk from water shortage while the irrigation systems demand huge amounts of water what cause depletion of groundwater in many regions. The government of China is trying to address the problem by different measures like reducing food waste, increasing international cooperation. But some of the measures like using more fertilizers produced from coal can exacerbate the problem.[37]
Fishing Industry
[edit]Due to overfishing, pollution, global temperature increase, and change in pH to the world's oceans, the South China Sea is suffering from a lack in biodiversity among marine life.[29] Historically, China was the world's largest capture fisheries and aquaculture producer, making the fish market a significant part of the Chinese economy.[38] Due to the environmental impacts, coral reefs in the South China Sea are dying, decreasing the amount of marine life in the South China Sea. Fisheries are not able to catch the amount of fish that was once brought to the fish market, making that part of the economy suffer. The amount of fishing in China is unsustainable, and therefore declining.[39] The fishing industry supplies a significant amount of jobs, exports, and domestic consumption, which will disappear if the fishing industry collapses.[citation needed]
Mitigation
[edit]In general, the climate policy of China can be described as "underpromise so that it can overdeliver". China sets itself low climate targets that cannot surely prevent a 2 degrees temperature rise, but it mostly achieves and even overachieve its targets. China wants to peak its carbon emissions before 2030 and became carbon neutral by 2060. The paramount leader of China declared that his country will stop financing coal power plants abroad. China achieved 9 of its 15 climate targets in the Paris agreement before it was planned to happen. The climate policy of China can become more effective as a result of higher climate ambition of other countries and better cooperation with the USA.[40] In March 2022 China increased its fossil fuel production "amid growing fears of global energy shortages and rising concerns of an economic slump".[41] In 2024, some scientists suggested the CO2 emissions from energy and cement may have peaked, but emissions of perfluorocarbons rose. Those gases are linked to industrial processes like production of aluminium, and non-stick cookware coatings. They account for a very little part of emissions currently, but they are thousands times stronger greenhouse gases than CO2, stay in the atmosphere for tens of thousands years and their emissions rate increased by up to 70%.[42]
The main climate targets of China as of 2022:
- Peak CO2 emissions before the year 2030.
- Reach net zero emissions before the year 2060.
Calculations in 2021 showed that for giving the world a 50% chance of avoiding a temperature rise of 2 degrees or more China should increase its climate commitments by 7%.[43]: Table 1 For a 95% chance it should increase the commitments by 24%. For giving a 50% chance of staying below 1.5 degrees China should increase its commitments by 41%.[43]
In 2022, China issued its climate targets in the 14th Five-Year Plan. Those include: reduce the economy's energy intensity by 13.5%, reduce the CO2 intensity of the economy by 18%, increase in the share of nonfossil energy to about 20%. The change is in comparison to the numbers for the year 2021.[44] All three targets should be achieved by 2025.
In the beginning of the year 2022 a government-supported research said China will peak CO2 emissions in the year 2027 at 12.2Gt and reach net zero carbon emissions before 2060 if it will change its development model.[45]
Renewable energy
[edit]This article needs to be updated.(April 2024) |
Energy efficiency
[edit]A 2011 report by a project facilitated by World Resources Institute stated that the 11th five-year plan (2005 to 2010), in response to worsening energy intensity in the 2002-2005 period, set a goal of a 20% improvement of energy intensity. The report stated that this goal likely was achieved or nearly achieved. The next five-year plan set a goal of improving energy intensity by 16%.[52]
China set itself a target to limit its Primary energy consumption to 5 btce by 2020.[53]
In 2022 China published a plan of energy conservation for the 14th five-year plan (2021 to 2025) with a target of cutting energy consumption per unit of GDP by 13.5% by the year 2025 in comparison to the level of 2020.[54] The plan regards 17 different sectors in the economy. In some sectors 20% - 40% of the capacities are not meeting the standards they need to meet by 2025. This policy expects to benefit the biggest companies who have the possibility to reach the targets.[55]
In the provinces of China, there are various projects held aiming to solve emissions reduction and energy-saving, which is a big step in tackling climate change. Beijing is developing in replacing traditional bulbs with energy-saving light bulbs. Provinces such as Rizhao and Dezhou are promoting solar energy in the building heating system. Besides, Tsinghua University launched a lead on low-carbon city development. The city is currently working with Tsinghua University to improve the urban environment by introducing renewable energy into industries and households.[56]
China advances "nearly zero energy buildings" Such buildings can consume 70% less energy in very cold areas and 60% less in other regions.[57] According to Jiang Wanrong (the vice-minister of housing and urban-rural development in China), 60% of the floor area in the public buildings of China was adjusted to the energy efficiency standards for buildings, as of December 2023. There are around 80 standards of this type in China.[58]
Transport
[edit]Bicycles are common in China which is known [by whom?] as “kingdom of bicycles”.[citation needed] However, in the last 4 decades cars created a strong decline in bicycle use, what led to deterioration of air quality and traffic congestion. The Chinese government responded by introducing bicycle sharing systems and bike lanes, what can help, among others, the climate.[59][60] More than 360 Chinese cities have dockless bike-sharing systems that deploy nearly 20 million bicycles that travel an average of 47 million kilometres per day. According to the World Resources Institute report, dockless bike-sharing systems reduced China's GHG emissions by 4.8 million tonnes of CO2 annually.[61]
China makes considerable efforts to expand and improve its public transportation network, what creates health benefits and have significant importance for emission reduction.[62] According to official data, in 2023 the number of trips in urban public transportation increased by 27.7%.[63]
Tianjin, with more than 13 million dwellers received the Sustainable Transport Award for the year 2024 due to its efforts to improve and expand non motorized and public transport, make it accessible. The policy of the city had an impact on policies at the regional and country level and received support from the World Bank (this is its biggest investment in this domain). According to the statement of the Institute for Transportation & Development policy which accorded the award, "Thus, the city's recent investments into sustainable mobility policy and infrastructure have the potential to serve as a model for the rest of China as the nation works towards achieving carbon neutrality before 2060."[64][65]
Forests
[edit]In 2020 the forests of China held around 7.62 billion tonnes of carbon (which are equivalent to 28 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide). By 2100 the number can elevate to 19.59 billion tonnes of carbon.[66]
Policies and legislation
[edit]Climate change has not been a priority to China until around 2008, when this issue was brought to a higher platform. Chinese state affairs operate as a central system, not a federal system. For example, the central government makes decisions and the local governments fulfill them. As a result, the local governments receive constraints and are measured by their performance from the central governments. Solving environmental issues such as climate change requires long-term investments in money, resources, and time. It is believed that these efforts will be detrimental to economic growth, which is of particular importance to the promotion of local government executives. This is why local governments have no engagement in addressing this issue.[56]
In China's first NDC submission, key areas were identified for climate change adaptation, including agriculture, water resources, and vulnerable areas. It also mentioned that an adaptation strategy should be implemented through regional strategies.[67] Flooding in cities is being tackled by collecting and recycling rainwater.[68] In 2013, China issued its National Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation and set goals of reducing vulnerability, strengthening monitoring, and raising public awareness. Efforts on implementation have been put in adapting forestry, meteorological management, infrastructure, and risk planning.[69]
The development of technology and economy in China share more responsibility in tackling climate change. After facing the 2011 smog issue, China's government launched an extensive strategy, which is to improve air quality by reducing the growth of coal consumption. Nevertheless, the trade war that involved China as one of the leading participants has resulted in the loss of control of polluting industries, especially in the steel and cement during 2018. Fortunately, nearly 70 multinational and local brands implemented the monitoring data by The Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs (IPE) in China, stimulating nearly 8,000 suppliers approaching regulatory violations.[70]
Paris agreement
[edit]The Paris agreement is a legally binding international agreement. Its main goal is to limit global warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.[71] The Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are the plans to fight climate change adapted for each country, which outlines specific goals and targets for the upcoming five years to help mitigate the effects of climate change.[72] Every party in the agreement has different targets based on its own historical climate records and country's circumstances and all the targets for each country are stated in their NDC.[73]
China is currently a member of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Paris Agreement. As a part of this agreement it has agreed to the 2016 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).
The NDC target regarding the China against climate change and greenhouse gas emissions under the Paris agreement are the following:[74]
- Peak of carbon dioxide emissions around 2030.
- 60% to 65% reduction of Carbon dioxide emission per unit of its gross domestic product (GDP), compared to 2005.
- Increase the forest stock volume by around 4.5 billion cubic meters on the 2005 level.
In the NDC of China there is a list of things that have been achieved by 2014:[74]
- Proactive approach to climate change (for example enhancing mechanisms to effectively defend key areas).
Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP)
[edit]China launched the Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) in 2020. It measures the contribution of ecosystems to the economy, including by regulating climate. In 2023, already 15 local governments have issued guidelines about it, and around 200 projects were launched. The first province to issue local rules about GEP was Zhejiang , and a year later it has already decided the fate of a project in the Deqing region. For example, the GEP of Chengtian Radon Spring Nature Reserve has been calculated as US$43 million.[75]
Progress
[edit]Climate action tracker (CAT) is an independent scientific analysis that tracks government climate action and measures it against the globally agreed Paris Agreement. Climate action tracker found China actions to be "Highly insufficient".[76]
According to analysis from the Global Energy Monitor: "China accounts for more than 95 per cent of the coal plant capacity beginning construction in 2023". The report said that "building new unabated coal power plants must stop to limit global warming to the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius".[77]
National carbon trading scheme
[edit]The Chinese national carbon trading scheme is an intensity-based trading system for carbon dioxide emissions by China, which started operating in 2021.[78][79] This emission trading scheme (ETS) creates a carbon market where emitters can buy and sell emission credits. The scheme will allow carbon emitters to reduce emissions or purchase emission allowances from other emitters. Through this scheme, China will limit emissions while allowing economic freedom for emitters.
China is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG) and many major Chinese cities had severe air pollution through the 2010s,[80] with the situation improving in the 2020s.[81] The scheme is run by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment,[78] which eventually plans to limit emissions from six of China's top carbon dioxide emitting industries.[82] In 2021 it started with its power plants, and covers 40% of China's emissions, which is 15% of world emissions.[83] China was able to gain experience in drafting and implementation of an ETS plan from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), where China was part of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).[80] China's national ETS is the largest of its kind,[83] and will help China achieve its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement.[80] In July 2021, permits were being handed out for free rather than auctioned, and the market price per tonne of CO2e was around RMB 50, roughly half of the EU ETS and the UK ETS but better compared to the US, which has no formal cap-and-trade program.[83]Eco-Cities
[edit]The Chinese government has strategically promoted Eco-Cities in China as a policy measure for addressing rising greenhouse gas emissions resulting from China's rapid urbanization and industrialization.[84] These projects seek to blend green technologies and sustainable infrastructure to build large, environmentally friendly cities nationwide.[85] The government has launched three programs to incentivize cities to undertake eco-city construction,[86] encouraging hundreds of cities to announce plans for eco-city developments.[87]
International cooperation
[edit]Attitudes of the Chinese government on climate change, specifically regarding the role of China in climate change action, have shifted notably in recent years. Historically, climate change was largely seen as a problem that has been created by and should be solved by industrialized countries; in 2015, China said it supports the "common but differentiated responsibilities" principle,[88] which holds that since China is still developing, its abilities and capacities to reduce emissions are comparatively lower than developed countries'.[89]
In 2012, China established its National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation as part of its effort to develop world-class research in this area.[90]: 105 Like the National Development and Reform Commission's Energy Research Institute, the National Center for Climate Change Strategy regularly works with international research institutions and think tanks.[90]: 105
In 2018, the government has urged countries to continue to support the Paris agreement, even in the wake of the United States' withdrawal in 2017.[91] In 2020, Chinese leader Xi Jinping announced at the UN General Assembly in New York that his country will end its contribution to global heating and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 by adopting "more vigorous policies and measures."[9]
Both internationally and within the People's Republic of China, there has been an ongoing debate over China's economic responsibilities for climate change mitigation. The argument has been made that China has a crucial role to play in keeping global warming under 2 °C, and that this cannot be accomplished unless coal use, which accounts for the majority of China's emissions,[92] falls sharply.[93][94] CCP general secretary Xi Jinping says China will "phase down" coal use from 2026 - and will not build new coal-fired projects abroad - but some governments and campaigners say the plans are not going far enough.
The People's Republic of China is an active participant in the climate change talks and other multilateral environmental negotiations, and claims to take environmental challenges seriously but is pushing for the developed world to help developing countries to a greater extent.
However the Belt and Road Initiative is constructing coal-fired power stations (for example Emba Hunutlu power station in Turkey) thus increasing greenhouse gas emissions from other countries.[95]
China is a part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, BASIC Alliance. This alliance is an international commitment to work in partnership with Brazil, South Africa, and India.[96] BASIC's international commitments and goals are to be carbon net-zero before 2060, and to help achieve the global goal from the UNFCCC of reducing emissions to 1.5% degrees Celsius before pre-industrial levels.[96] In 2021, at the UN General Assembly, Chinese leader Xi Jinping stated that China will no longer fund coal-fired power plants abroad. Xi also repeated the country's commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.[97]
In 2022 the cooperation on climate issues between China and US considerably improved. The countries create "a group from both countries to work toward quickly reducing greenhouse gas emissions." John Kerry mentioned a possibility of technological help from the part of US and informational help from the part of China.[98]
In July 2023 John Kerry visited China for advance climate cooperation. The main achievement of the visit was some progress in the fields of: "methane reduction commitments; reducing China's reliance on coal; China's objections to trade restrictions on solar panel and battery components; and climate finance." This was obtained despite many currently existing obstacles to cooperation.[99]
In July 2023 China and the European Union hold the Fourth EU-China High Level Environment and Climate Dialogue, declaring they will continue to cooperate in stopping climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Both sides agree to ensure the success of COP28, implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, advance the High Seas Treaty, cooperate in water policy, reach a global agreement on plastic pollution by 2024. Both sides agree to support Circular economy.[100]
Adaptation
[edit]China has experienced a seven-fold increase in the frequency of floods since the 1950s, rising every decade. The frequency of extreme rainfall has increased and is predicted to continue to increase in the western and southern parts of China. The country is currently undertaking efforts to reduce the threat of these floods (which have the potential effect of completely destroying vulnerable communities), largely focusing on improving the infrastructure responsible for tracking and maintaining adequate water levels. That being said, the country is promoting the extension of technologies for water allocation and water-saving mechanisms. In the country's National Climate Change Policy Program, one of the goals specifically set out is to enhance the ability to bear the impacts of climate change, as well as to raise the public awareness on climate change. China's National Climate Change Policy states that it will integrate climate change policies into the national development strategy. In China, this national policy comes in the form of its "Five Year Plans for Economic and Social Development". China's Five Year Plans serve as the strategic road maps for the country's development. The goals spelled out in the Five Year Plans are mandatory as government officials are held responsible for meeting the targets.[101]
The Great Green Wall is a major tree planting initiative aiming to combat climate change.[102]
Society and culture
[edit]Public opinion
[edit]According to a study from 2017 conducted by the China Climate Change Communication program, 94% of interviewees supported fulfilling the Paris agreement, 96.8% of interviewees supported international cooperation on global climate change, and more than 70% of interviewees were willing to purchase environmentally friendly products. 98.7% of interviewees supported implementing climate change education at schools. Respondents were most concerned about the air pollution caused by climate change.[103] The investigation included 4025 samples.[103]
The investigation showed that Chinese citizens agreed that they were experiencing climate change and that it was caused by human activities.[104]
Furthermore, most Chinese citizens believe individual action on climate change can help, although the government is still seen as the entity most responsible for dealing with climate change. If the government does take action, fiscal and taxation policies are seen as potentially effective.[105]
Activism
[edit]In 2019, activist Howey Ou staged the country's first school strike for climate in Guilin. Organisations connected to the government, such as China Youth Climate Action Network, have also disseminated training and public awareness activities related to the issue.[107]
See also
[edit]- China Carbon Forum
- China Beijing Environmental Exchange
- Deforestation and climate change
- Environment of China
- Green growth in China
- Plug-in electric vehicles in China
- Tianjin Climate Exchange
References
[edit]- ^ World Bank. "China Country Climate and Development Report" (PDF).
- ^ "China National communication 3: Part III Impacts of Climate Change and Adaptation". unfccc.int. Archived from the original on 14 November 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
- ^ Ritchie, Hannah; Roser, Max; Rosado, Pablo (11 May 2020). "CO₂ and Greenhouse Gas Emissions". Our World in Data. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ Regan, Helen (5 January 2024). "2023 was China's hottest year on record, marked by multiple deadly extreme weather events". CNN. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Who has contributed most to global CO2 emissions?". Our World in Data. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
- ^ "The hard truths of climate change — by the numbers". www.nature.com. 18 September 2019. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
- ^ Malik, Arunima; Lan, Jun (2 April 2016). "The role of outsourcing in driving global carbon emissions". Economic Systems Research. 28 (2): 168–182. doi:10.1080/09535314.2016.1172475. ISSN 0953-5314. S2CID 156212231. Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
high-income resource-poor nations such as the United Kingdom, Germany and France (...) outsource carbon-intensive production to China
- ^ Plumer, Brad (4 September 2018). "You've Heard of Outsourced Jobs, but Outsourced Pollution? It's Real, and Tough to Tally Up". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Climate change: China aims for 'carbon neutrality by 2060'". BBC News. 22 September 2020. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- ^ Lui, Swithin (19 May 2022). "Guest post: Why China is set to significantly overachieve its 2030 climate goals". Carbon Brief. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
- ^ ● Source for carbon emissions data: "Territorial (MtCO₂) / Emissions / Carbon emissions / Chart View". Global Carbon Atlas. 2024.
● Source for country population data: "Population 2022" (PDF). World Bank. 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 October 2024. - ^ Chart based on: Milman, Oliver (12 July 2022). "Nearly $2tn of damage inflicted on other countries by US emissions". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 12 July 2022. Guardian cites Callahan, Christopher W.; Mankin, Justin S. (12 July 2022). "National attribution of historical climate damages". Climatic Change. 172 (40): 40. Bibcode:2022ClCh..172...40C. doi:10.1007/s10584-022-03387-y. S2CID 250430339.
- ^ "全球温室气体排放数据(最新版)_中国碳排放交易网". www.tanpaifang.com. Archived from the original on 10 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- ^ "Analysis: China's carbon emissions grow at fastest rate for more than a decade". Carbon Brief. 20 May 2021. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ "China - Countries & Regions". IEA. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
- ^ Hausfather, Zeke; Peters, Glen (29 January 2020). "Emissions – the 'business as usual' story is misleading". Nature. 577 (7792): 618–20. Bibcode:2020Natur.577..618H. doi:10.1038/d41586-020-00177-3. PMID 31996825.
- ^ Schuur, Edward A.G.; Abbott, Benjamin W.; Commane, Roisin; Ernakovich, Jessica; Euskirchen, Eugenie; Hugelius, Gustaf; Grosse, Guido; Jones, Miriam; Koven, Charlie; Leshyk, Victor; Lawrence, David; Loranty, Michael M.; Mauritz, Marguerite; Olefeldt, David; Natali, Susan; Rodenhizer, Heidi; Salmon, Verity; Schädel, Christina; Strauss, Jens; Treat, Claire; Turetsky, Merritt (2022). "Permafrost and Climate Change: Carbon Cycle Feedbacks From the Warming Arctic". Annual Review of Environment and Resources. 47: 343–371. doi:10.1146/annurev-environ-012220-011847.
Medium-range estimates of Arctic carbon emissions could result from moderate climate emission mitigation policies that keep global warming below 3°C (e.g., RCP4.5). This global warming level most closely matches country emissions reduction pledges made for the Paris Climate Agreement...
- ^ Phiddian, Ellen (5 April 2022). "Explainer: IPCC Scenarios". Cosmos. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
"The IPCC doesn't make projections about which of these scenarios is more likely, but other researchers and modellers can. The Australian Academy of Science, for instance, released a report last year stating that our current emissions trajectory had us headed for a 3°C warmer world, roughly in line with the middle scenario. Climate Action Tracker predicts 2.5 to 2.9°C of warming based on current policies and action, with pledges and government agreements taking this to 2.1°C.
- ^ Zhang, Qinghong; Ni, Xiang; Zhang, Fuqing (17 February 2017). "Decreasing trend in severe weather occurrence over China during the past 50 years". Scientific Reports. 7: 42310. Bibcode:2017NatSR...742310Z. doi:10.1038/srep42310. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 5314453. PMID 28211465.
- ^ Jackson, Liam (17 February 2017). "Study shows China's severe weather patterns changing drastically since 1960 | Penn State University". news.psu.edu. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- ^ "《中国气候变化蓝皮书》:年平均气温显著上升--人民网环保频道--人民网". env.people.com.cn. Archived from the original on 23 June 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- ^ Bernard, Steven; Shepherd, Christian (12 June 2021). "China's sea-level rise raises threat to economic hubs to extreme". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 21 February 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
- ^ "China Is Heating Up Faster Than The Global Average, Data Shows". Bloomberg.com. 27 August 2020. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ Gan, Nectar (13 April 2023). "Record rise in China's sea levels threatens coastal cities like Shanghai". CNN. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- ^ http://www.die-gdi.de/CMS-Homepage/openwebcms3_e.nsf/(ynDK_contentByKey)/ENTR-7BDE2T?OpenDocument&nav=expand:Research%20and%20Consulting\Projects;active:Research%20and%20Consulting\Projects\ENTR-7BDE2T[permanent dead link ]
- ^ "The Indus Equation Report, Strategic Foresight Group" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
- ^ a b "Digication e-Portfolio :: Eda Charmaine Gimenez :: Welcome". stonybrook.digication.com. Archived from the original on 29 August 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Climate Change in China | Shangri-la Institute". waterschool.cn. Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Climate Change Impacts on China's Environment: Biophysical Impacts | Wilson Center". www.wilsoncenter.org. Archived from the original on 15 February 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
- ^ Hess, Lily (7 January 2022). "In China, drastic rise in crop pests and diseases due to climate change". LANDSCAPE NEWS. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
- ^ Wang, Chenzhi; Wang, Xuhui (9 December 2021). "Occurrence of crop pests and diseases has largely increased in China since 1970". Nature Food. 3 (1): 57–65. doi:10.1038/s43016-021-00428-0. PMID 37118481. S2CID 245017229. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
- ^ Zheng, Heran; Cao, Shixiong (1 February 2015). "Threats to China's Biodiversity by Contradictions Policy". Ambio. 44 (1): 23–33. Bibcode:2015Ambio..44...23Z. doi:10.1007/s13280-014-0526-7. ISSN 1654-7209. PMC 4293358. PMID 24789510.
- ^ Feng, Qi; Ma, Hua; Jiang, Xuemei; Wang, Xin; Cao, Shixiong (3 November 2015). "What Has Caused Desertification in China?". Scientific Reports. 5 (1): 15998. Bibcode:2015NatSR...515998F. doi:10.1038/srep15998. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 4630590. PMID 26525278.
- ^ Tong, Shilu; Berry, Helen L; Ebi, Kristie; Bambrick, Hilary; Hu, Wenbiao; Green, Donna; Hanna, Elizabeth; Wang, Zhiqiang; Butler, Colin D (2016). "Climate change, food, water and population health in China". Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 94 (10). U.S. National Library of Medicine: 759–765. doi:10.2471/BLT.15.167031. PMC 5043205. PMID 27843166.
- ^ The Lancet (2021). "Climate and COVID-19: converging crises". The Lancet. 397 (10269): 71. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(20)32579-4. ISSN 0140-6736. PMID 33278352. S2CID 227315818.
- ^ Ye, Yuan (3 March 2022). "IPCC Warns China Will Be Hit Hard by Climate Change". Sixth tone. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ Zhang, Hongzhou. "Climate change threatens China's rice bowl". East Asia forum. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ^ Zhang, Wenbo; Liu, Min; Mitcheson, Yvonne Sadovy de; Cao, Ling; Leadbitter, Duncan; Newton, Richard; Little, David C.; Li, Songlin; Yang, Yi; Chen, Xiao; Zhou, Wei (2020). "Fishing for feed in China: Facts, impacts and implications". Fish and Fisheries. 21 (1): 47–62. Bibcode:2020AqFF...21...47Z. doi:10.1111/faf.12414. hdl:1893/30358. ISSN 1467-2979. S2CID 208583444. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
- ^ Hughes, Terry P.; Huang, Hui; Young, Matthew a. L. (2013). "The Wicked Problem of China's Disappearing Coral Reefs". Conservation Biology. 27 (2): 261–269. Bibcode:2013ConBi..27..261H. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2012.01957.x. ISSN 1523-1739. PMID 23140101. S2CID 12911501. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
- ^ Stalley, Phillip (7 February 2022). "China's climate change record: Beijing tends to meet its targets, but sets the bar too low". Down to Earth. Archived from the original on 21 February 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
- ^ "CHINA POLICY 17 March 2022 16:00 China Briefing, 17 March 2022: Beijing 'doubling down on fossil fuels'; China's CO2 emissions increase; Coal production growth". Carbon Brief. 17 March 2022. Archived from the original on 17 March 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- ^ Bardsley, Daniel (18 July 2024). "As China makes strides on climate change, new potent emissions emerge". The National. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ a b R. Liu, Peiran; E. Raftery, Adrian (9 February 2021). "Country-based rate of emissions reductions should increase by 80% beyond nationally determined contributions to meet the 2 °C target". Communications Earth & Environment. 2 (1): 29. Bibcode:2021ComEE...2...29L. doi:10.1038/s43247-021-00097-8. PMC 8064561. PMID 33899003.
- ^ "China Briefing, 24 March 2022: 14FYP energy plan; More plans on energy storage and hydrogen; China's emissions analysis". Carbon Brief. 24 March 2022. Archived from the original on 30 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^ "China Briefing, 7 April 2022: Carbon peaking 'around 2027'; EU-China summit; Food systems for cutting CO2". Carbon Brief. 7 April 2022. Archived from the original on 8 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
- ^ "Chart: Solar installations set to break global, US records in 2023". Canary Media. 15 September 2023. Archived from the original on 17 September 2023. For relevant chart, Canary Media credits: "Source: BloombergNEF, September 2023"
- ^ Chase, Jenny (5 September 2023). "3Q 2023 Global PV Market Outlook". BloombergNEF. Archived from the original on 21 September 2023.
- ^ 2023 data: Chase, Jenny (4 March 2024). "1Q 2024 Global PV Market Outlook". BNEF.com. BloombergNEF. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024.
- ^ a b "China to remain leader in renewable energy capacity growth in 2022". 2 January 2022.
- ^ "China on Track to Blow Past Xi's Clean Power Goal Five Years Early". Bloomberg.com. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
- ^ Ahmed, Zo (22 July 2024). "China is on track to meet 2030 renewable energy target six years ahead of schedule". TechSpot. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ ChinaFAQs: China's Energy Conservation Accomplishments of the 11th Five Year Plan, ChinaFAQs on 25 July 2011, http://www.chinafaqs.org/library/chinafaqs/chinas-energy-conservation-accomplishments-11th-five-year-plan Archived 28 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "China and Germany - Working for an Energy Efficient Future". Energiepartnershcaft. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ "China Briefing, 3 February 2022: Power market reform; 'Energy-conserving' 14FYP scheme; Xi's trip to coal province". Carbon Brief. 3 February 2022. Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ Ng, Eric (14 February 2022). "Climate Change: China's new five-year energy efficiency targets to drive heavy industry consolidation, analysts say". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 17 February 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- ^ a b Ye Qi; Li Ma; Huanbo Zhang; Huimin Li (December 2008). "Translating a Global Issue Into Local Priority: China's Local Government Response to Climate Change". The Journal of Environment & Development. 17 (4): 379–400. doi:10.1177/1070496508326123. ISSN 1070-4965. S2CID 220735635.
- ^ "ENERGY-EFFICIENT BUILDINGS IN CHINA: STANDARDS AND FINANCING MECHANISM". CITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE TRANSITION IN CHINA. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ Liqiang, Hou (7 December 2023). "Progress made in making buildings energy-efficient". China Daily. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ "China". UN environmental programm. United Nations. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ "In China's Cities, A Return to Cycling Prioritizes People and the Climate". Institute for Transportation & Development policy. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ HOW DOCKLESS BIKE-SHARING CHANGES LIVES: AN ANALYSIS OF CHINESE CITIES (PDF). World Resources Institute. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 February 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- ^ Taylor, Mike (17 August 2023). "China's public transit system continues to set world records — here's what the U.S. could learn". Yahoo. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ Борзенко, Тимофій (2 May 2024). "China's urban passenger trips jump 27.7 pct in 2023". Xinhua News Agency. Ukrainian news. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ "Tianjin China receives 2024 sustainable transport award for walking cycling and public transport improvements". PR WIRE India. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ "Tianjin, China Receives 2024 Sustainable Transport Award for Focus on Cycling and Walking Infrastructure". Institute for Transportation & Development policy. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ Song, Wanyuan; Patel, Anika; Evans, Simon (18 April 2024). "China Briefing 18 April: Clean-tech 'overcapacity'; New coal construction; Interview with China Photovoltaic Industry Association". Carbon Brief. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ China's First NDC Submission https://www4.unfccc.int/sites/ndcstaging/PublishedDocuments/China%20First/China%27s%20First%20NDC%20Submission.pdf Archived 15 November 2019 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "China taps into global expertise in climate change battle against increasing floods and drought". South China Morning Post. 9 July 2019. Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
- ^ "GUIDE TO CHINESE CLIMATE POLICY 2018" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 January 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ "How China Can Truly Lead the Fight Against Climate Change". Time. 12 September 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
- ^ "The Paris Agreement". unfccc.int. Archived from the original on 19 March 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ "NDC spotlight". UNFCCC. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ "Nationally Determined Contributions". unfccc. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
- ^ a b "China first DNC" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
- ^ Mengnan, Jiang (4 April 2024). "Zhejiang counts 'gross ecosystem product' of nature reserve". China Dialogue. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ "China | Climate Action Tracker". climateactiontracker.org. Archived from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
- ^ Prasad, Seema (28 November 2023). "India, Indonesia, Bangladesh & Vietnam host to most under-construction coal projects worldwide: Report". Down to Earth. Global Energy Monitor. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ a b "China National ETS". Archived from the original on 3 June 2019.
- ^ Nogrady, Bianca (20 July 2021). "China launches world's largest carbon market: but is it ambitious enough?". Nature. 595 (7869): 637. Bibcode:2021Natur.595..637N. doi:10.1038/d41586-021-01989-7.
- ^ a b c Swartz, Jeff (March 2016). "China's National Emissions Trading System" (PDF). Global Economic Policy and Institutions.
- ^ "China's Battle Against Air Pollution: An Update | Council on Foreign Relations". www.cfr.org. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ Fialka, ClimateWire, John. "China Will Start the World's Largest Carbon Trading Market". Scientific American. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ a b c "China's carbon market scheme too limited, say analysts". www.ft.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
- ^ Sandalow, David (July 2018). Guide to Chinese Climate Policy (PDF). New York: Columbia Center on Global Energy Policy. ISBN 978-1-7261-8430-4. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 February 2022.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ Hunter, Garfield Wayne; Sagoe, Gideon; Vettorato, Daniele; Jiayu, Ding (11 August 2019). "Sustainability of Low Carbon City Initiatives in China: A Comprehensive Literature Review". Sustainability. 11 (16): 4342. doi:10.3390/su11164342. ISSN 2071-1050.
- ^ de Jong, Martin; Yu, Chang; Joss, Simon; Wennersten, Ronald; Yu, Li; Zhang, Xiaoling; Ma, Xin (15 October 2016). "Eco city development in China: addressing the policy implementation challenge". Journal of Cleaner Production. Special Volume: Transitions to Sustainable Consumption and Production in Cities. 134: 31–41. Bibcode:2016JCPro.134...31D. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.03.083. ISSN 0959-6526.
- ^ Xu, Miao (2023). "Developer-led new eco-cities in China - identification, assessment and solution of environmental issues in planning". Archived from the original on 30 May 2023.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ "China reaffirms the key principle of 'common but differentiated responsibility'". Archived from the original on 10 October 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
- ^ "Why China's climate policy matters to us all". BBC News. 29 October 2021. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
- ^ a b Lewis, Joanna I. (2023). Cooperating for the Climate: Learning from International Partnerships in China's Clean Energy Sector. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press. ISBN 978-0-262-54482-5.
- ^ Wong, Edward (19 July 2018). "China Is a Climate Leader but Still Isn't Doing Enough on Emissions, Report Says". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
- ^ "Guest post: Why China's CO2 emissions grew 4% during first half of 2019". Carbon Brief. 5 September 2019. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
- ^ "Are dictatorships better than democracies at fighting climate change?". The Economist. 19 September 2019. ISSN 0013-0613. Archived from the original on 4 October 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
- ^ McGrath, Matt (20 November 2019). "China coal surge threatens Paris climate targets". Archived from the original on 20 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ "China's Belt and Road Initiative Could Drive Warming to 2.7 Degrees". Yale E360. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- ^ a b "Party Groupings". unfccc.int. Archived from the original on 19 March 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
- ^ "China pledges to stop building coal-fired power plants overseas". Financial Times. 21 September 2021. Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
- ^ PRENGAMAN, PETER (24 May 2022). "At Davos, Kerry cites progress on China-US climate group". Associaeted Press. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ^ Blaine, Tegan; Freeman, Carla; Tugendhat, Henry. "What Does John Kerry's Visit Mean for U.S.-China Climate Cooperation?". United States Institute of Peace. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ "Joint Press Release following the Fourth EU-China High Level Environment and Climate Dialogue". Delegation of the European Union to the People's Republic of China. the European Union. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ King et al. 2012. "The Response of China, India, and Brazil to Climate Change." Archived 9 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment. University of Oxford.
- ^ Network, Mitch Moxley for IPS, part of the Guardian Environment (23 September 2010). "China's great green wall grows in climate fight". the Guardian. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b "中国公众气候变化与气候传播认知情况调研报告" (PDF). 中国公众气候变化与气候传播认知情况调研报告. November 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 April 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
- ^ "2017年中国公众气候变化与气候传播认知状况调研报告发布". www.sohu.com. 2 November 2017. Archived from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- ^ Yu, Hao; Wang, Bing; Zhang, Yue-Jun; Wang, Shouyang; Wei, Yi-Ming (22 May 2013). "Public perception of climate change in China: results from the questionnaire survey". Natural Hazards. 69 (1): 459–472. Bibcode:2013NatHa..69..459Y. doi:10.1007/s11069-013-0711-1. ISSN 0921-030X. S2CID 140627529.
- ^ "The Great Climate Wall – 'I will act on climate, will you?'". Climate Action Network. 3 October 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
- ^ Standaert, Michael (18 September 2019). "China's young climate heroes fight apathy – and the party line". the Guardian. Retrieved 28 October 2022.